DESPITE a narrow defeat this was a contest that exemplified what is good in level 5 rugby; two evenly matched teams with very different styles of play, each fielding starters (Lymm 14, YMCA 12), who have come through the clubs youth sides; a large and good humoured visiting crowd and commitment aplenty.
Lymm started brightly, with their very youthful backs showing plenty of flair and threat. 19 year old Rhys Jones in his second start looked assured at stand off and the similarly aged Jake Ecclestone was very lively in the centre.
A line out for the home side near the half way line was the catalyst for the opening score. The ball was moved swiftly to Jones who fed Tom Bray on an excellent line. Bray made 20 yards before slipping the ball to Ecclestone whose powerful run saw him score in the corner. Cormac Nolan converted well, 7-0.
Ecclestone’s pace was displayed again from the kick off, but this time he was bundled into touch. Lymm were to score soon after however, as Tom Bray intercepted a pass on his own 22 metre line. The ball was driven to halfway and then quickly across the pitch to Nolan on the right wing. His clever kick through was chased by 3 Lymm players, with Joe Knowles getting to the ball first to put Lymm two tries up. Nolan again converted, 14-0.
YMCA then began to assert themselves, showing a powerful off-loading game that was to prove very effective and Lymm’s midfield defence looked suspect. Retaining the ball well, the visitors had a lengthy period of possession 20 yards from the home line which forced Lymm into frantic defense. Inevitably the visitors made this pressure tell, despite a huge hit by Alex Kahui. The quick off loads and direct running from the three quarters allowed scrum half Wilson to score. The conversion was missed, 14-5.
Lymm were to play 20 of the next 30 minutes a man down. Hooker Adam Bray was the first to invoke the referee’s ire, as he was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle. His absence was soon capitalised on by the Yorkshiremen who won a scrum against the head and the strong running centre found Hodge in plenty of space to add to their tally. Stead made the conversion, 14-12.
Lymm responded with a fine penalty kick by Nolan from halfway, after a high tackle by Huddersfield. This one was not deemed a yellow card offence. 17-12.
YMCA continued to pressure the 14 men of Lymm, and soon took advantage of superior numbers and wayward tackling, with Ryder breaking through the defence to level the score before Stead’s conversion put them in front 17-19.
Lymm were briefly restored to a full cohort, but not for long.
A well worked YMCA attack saw them with acres of space on Lymm’s left. Spirited scramble defence by Mullarkey halted the attack, and his fine effort at the breakdown gave Lymm possession. The referee however saw an offence that no spectators of either side could quite determine. This offence was sufficiently bad to warrant ten minutes on the side line. YMCA took full advantage, firstly winning a penalty from a maul 5 yards out, and then Bell had the guile to take a quick tap and dive over to score. 17-24 at the half.
Lymm opened the second half brightly. From a scrum in the YMCA half, Tom Bray and Jake Ecclestone again combined to score, with Ecclestone finishing very strongly through the middle. Nolan’s conversion tied the scores, 24 v 24. Young fly half Rhys Jones was replaced by the even younger Mark Dixon for his first team debut.
With parity achieved both sides fell into a very scrappy period of play. The ball rarely advanced further than 10 yards from the halfway line, mostly in YMCA’s half. The frequent turnovers resulted in a Lymm penalty which Nolan converted from 40 yards out. 27 v 24.
A confusing knock on decision gave YMCA possession on half way. A good kick forced a Lymm line 10 yards from their own line. Lymm won the line out but dropped the ball to gift the hungry YMCA an easy try under the posts.27 v 31.
Lymm continued to fight for the win, and with time running out won a line out 5 yards from the YMCA line. The line out maul is a potent Lymm weapon, but YMCA contained it well and Lymm were penalised for running into their own man.
Shortly after a good Lymm attack was undone by a careless knock on, and the game slipped away. Either side would have been deserving winners of this contest, but the number of tries scored by YMCA says much about their effectiveness with the ball in hand.
Lymm can take heart from the continuing development of so many of their youngsters. Jones and Ecclestone are both looking very capable at first team level. Mark Dixon and Alex Mitchell are in the England U’18’s squad for the game against France next weekend and James Mitchell was named man of the match in England’s U’20s win against Ireland Last Friday.
Next Saturday Lymm are away at Morley KO 3.00pm
Squad: 1) Mike Auden; 2) Adam Bray; 3) Jordan Widdrington; 4) Alex Kahui; 5) Sion Williams (C); 6) Sam Mullarkey; 7) Jack Harper; 8) Andy Kerr; 9) George Boaden; 10) Rhys Jones; 11) Andy Rowley; 12) Tom Bray; 13) Jake Ecclestone; 14) Cormac Nolan; 15) Joe Knowles; 16) Richard Halford; 17) Mark Dixon; 18) Nick Ashton
